Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1887-01-29
ETHEL'S CHOICE.

IL now slipping from her delicate hand,
half the time dreaming of-well, she
could not tell exactly what she has been
dreaming eff Perhaps she has been
dreaming over her delightful three weeks
at Newport; perhaps last nights party
has engrossed her thoughts. At all
events, thinking has been pleasant occu-
patton, for her face is very bright.
What charming picture she makes,
lying back luxuriantly in a hammock,
her beautiful head pillowed on soft,
white arms, and her hair, of that rich
shade of chestnut brown, shining in the
sunlight which slips in through the thick
foliage Of the arbor. Very charming in
deed is she to pair of dark eyes, which,
like sunbeams, are peeping at her
through the same medium.
ETHEL"
Miss Abbott gives little startled cry
as the owner of the eyes-a tall, well.
built fellow of twenty-four or twenty.
five comes quickly into the arbor.
'Jack! how yeti frightened me!'
"Did ~ says the intruder, penitent-
~; II am so sorry. The fact is, Mrs.
Abbott told me you were here, and
really was so anxious to see you"
Very kind Of you," murmurs Miss
Abbott, politely.
But something in her tone seems to
have chilling effect, for Jack reddens
slightly, and there is little pause.
"You wished to see mef' says the
young lady at length, turning with
polite interrogation to the other.
"You might naturally suppose so, as
came here to find YOU" is the answer,
delivered with depressed energy which
commands attention. Then, with an
abrupt change of manner, Ethel, what
is the matters Why are you so colds"
81 am very warm" signs Miss Alb.
bolt, trying to be funny, by way of evad
ing the question.
Her effort IL rendered q lamentable
failure, however, by an emphatic
" Pshaw!' which escapes with more
vigor than courtesy.
The young man rises and comes to the
side Of the hammock, looking down
upon its burden with eyes which are
very expressive.
Don't trit1e with me, Ethel" he
says in low voice, which is Just the
least unsteady, as if the speaker were
suppressing a good deal of emotion.
:" You know perfectly we'll why came
here to-day"
Miss Abbott looks up with an air Of
great surprise-only for a moment, how.
ever, for with all her faults she is NOT
ono whit untruthful. Then her eye.
drop hastily.
"Well, she says, with quick catch.
ing of her breath, "what if dol"
There is another pause, while the dark
eyes grow darker with mingle sadness
and, it must be confessed, Indignation,
while the tremor of voice is marked Of
Jack says:
"What of it? Only this: The arctic
expedition expects to leave port to-mor
row, and l go with it or not, as You bid
me. You know well enough that love
you, Ethel-surely need rot tell you
that again"
'It is of no use," says Ethel, after g
moments silence, with little plaintive
laugh. "No, Jack, we are both too poor,
and, though don't like to confess it,
am too mercenary."
There is no reply, though Miss Abbott
pauses for one; the dark eyes re,t upor
her with an intensity which is not pleas
ant, and the Dung mans grasp on the
hammock tightens involuntarily. She
goes on hastily:
Il know il does not sound we'll, but
1t is true. want so many things-dia.
monds, horses, and Worth costumes-ir
short, everything that money can buy
Certainly, Miss Abbot's confession i.
not very pretty, though the flush which
follows it is.
$50 you prefer marrying an income to
marrying a man" is the only comment
vouchsafed by her auditor. "Heaven
forgive you, Ethel, if yon mean what
you say.
The hand on the hammock is removed
with suddenness which causes the lat.
tel to sway violently, and Miss Abbott
unreasonably loses her temper.
u think you forget yourself, Mr..
Lindsay" she says haughtily. pray,
be more careful"
II beg your pardon" is the stiffly
polite rejoinder; and the offender ex.
tends his hand to assist the young lady
to alight.
She takes it with averted eyes and
steps to the ground, drawing i: quickly
away a moment later.
Good bye"
She has turned to leave the arbor when
the words are spoken.
Goodbye" she says, coldly.
Strangely enough, she cannot muster
courage to raise her eyes to his. The
hand she gives is imprisoned tightly.
Wont you wish me bon voyageT
says the young man, with faint attempt
at n smile.
''We never know what q day MAY
bring FORTH" she says, uttering o very
solemn truth with very common light
ness. "Still, if you wish it-bon voy
age"
An uncomfortable silence - ther
"Good-by and Ethel is free to resum,
her reading, while the sound of rapid
footsteps die away in the distance.
She does not avail herself of the OPP
portunlty, however, but sits motionles
on the little rustic bench, a rather mex
plicablc expression in her deep blue eyes
Suddenly she arises with a gesture o
impotence.
''Absurdr'
This little outburst of vehemence seem
to relieve her. and she proceeds to gatne
up her parasol and neglected novel, turn
from the arbor, and walks rapidly TOWARD
the house. 1t is a pretty villa, rathe
addicted to vines and climbing roses
with broad, inviting veranda-the yer,
place for comfortable performance o
that charming drama: "Love in a Cot
u l.